Choosing the right gift, a jhjmk drabble
When it comes to Hyunjoon, Junghee will do practically anything. Even if it means doing something that he’s not all that keen on doing. PREMISE: Junghee and Hyunjoon live together, and Junghee needs to get him a Christmas present.
When it comes to pokemon, Junghee has never thought much of them.
When he was four, and received an earful of a gift when he accidentally opened up a gift for his father, he didn't have the time to think about pokemon. He was too busy crying, his ears ringing in a way that seemed like they would never stop.
Then later, when Soojin had came into his life, a real pokemon, that was his and now just a hand me down from his father, he had wondered if it was something he was supposed to be excited about. Certainly, this was the kind of thing young kids dreamed of, getting a Treecko for the very first time. But he had had Daeho almost his entire life, so this didn't feel like a special occasion. Plus could it really be called his pokemon when really it was more like she was simply working for him?
And as for all the other pokemon that he had gained along the way, Junghee had never thought much of them either. Most came into his life by some way or form, either as a gift or simply stumbling their way into his line of sight and demanding to be taken in. He didn't mind them. They were useful, both in the way that they could be sources of income and in the way that they could be entertaining when one was lonesome. They were easier to deal with then people, sometimes, and sometimes they were a whole of a lot more difficult. Junghee had never thought of pokemon much beyond this, only because he had never had a reason to.
He wasn't afraid of pokemon but he certainly didn't get all excited over them either.
It was sort of like fans - just a general facet of life that he accepted. He neither liked or dislike them, yet understood their significance. He would have never dreamed of a world without them, if only for a fact that his world had always had them.
Hyunjoon, however, did not like pokemon. Unlike Junghee, who had always had to deal with them for as long as he could remember, Hyunjoon remained completely unaware of pokemon until he'd met Junghee's own. Even then, it had been pretty much minimal interaction. In general, Korea's existence of pokemon - especially in their idol world - was pretty minimized compared to other areas of the world.
Hyunjoon hated pokemon. Well, no, he was afraid of them.
It wasn't a terribly surprising thing - considering the amount of pokemon that towered six feet or higher, with fangs or claws that could easily slice up a human being without trying. However, some pokemon were gentle and kind and relatively nonthreatening.
They had talked about it before - mostly in the hours of the morning when they were drowsy but not quite sleeping. They had talked about how certain people simply had an affinity with pokemon - such as Minki - and how others didn't. Hyunjoon had once said he wished that he was part of the first group, but was unfortunately part of the second. It made Junghee want to help him, even if Hyunjoon had never asked for it.
But Hyunjoon would never get a pokemon on his own. Junghee was sure of it.
So Junghee decided: he would get Hyunjoon a pokemon for Christmas this year. Not just any pokemon. But maybe something nice, non threatening and able to erase Hyunjoons fear of pokemon and then they could visit Minki on his family ranch with much more ease. Which they both agreed they needed to do more of.
And so that was how Junghee ended up at their local pokemon shelter, staring at what had to be at least 30 different breeds of pokemon. Most were canines, which wasn't surprising considering that was the shelters speciality. Junghee had thought a dog pokemon would be good for Hyunjoon, since they were generally the easiest to get along with and the least terrifying of options.
But while Junghee had never had a problem with pokemon, he had never been all that good with them either.
Staring at the group of pokemon who were barking, whining, or yelping from their cages, Junghee wondered if perhaps he should have called Minki for this particular project. Minki would have been good for this.
Suddenly, this seems overwhelming.
He was used to selecting between things with objective value, objects that are able to be ranked; he searched “best toothbrush” on the internet before buying a new one, did his research on brands of bedsheets. He wished he could ask the man corralling pokemon in and out of their pens, excuse me but which one is the best? and take that one.
Perhaps he will call Minki.
"Hyung!" Minki calls as soon as he spots him, a million-watt smile on his face like it always is whenever any of CROWN5's former members call him out. The sight makes Junghee soften; he wishes more things in life were as easy as pleasing their maknae. Life would be so much easier.
On the phone, Minki seemed both touched and excited that his eldest hyung had reached out to him for help. And to help his other hyung no less! It was incredibly rare for Junghee to ask anyone - especially people that weren't Hyunjoon - for help, so he'd immediately rushed over. Plus they were at a dog shelter. How could he resist?
The maknae immediately attaches himself to Junghee, throwing him in a suffocating hug before proceeding to drag him through the shelter. It's as if Minki already knows this place - as an afterthought, Junghee realizes that it's possible. Minki's family owns a ranch, don't they?
Minki gushes excitedly as he explains the different kind of pokemon to Junghee, and which he thinks are the best, and Junghee listens to this in relative silence, trying to keep up to speed with his dongsaeng. He catches the tail end of Minki's final words a little too late and nearly reels when it catches up to him.
"Wait," he says, throat feeling a little parched. "You want us to play with them?"
Minki's smile is a little too saccharine. For a moment, Junghee wonders if the maknae is really as innocent as he pretends to be. But there's no time: Minki is already dragging him through those filthy gates and into the backyard.
"C’mon! Let's go!"
And that is how Junghee found himself sitting on some wet grass, looking vaguely uncomfortable as a Fennekin dozed on his lap. The weight was heavier than he would have liked, and the pokemon was definitely closer than he would've liked. Junghee had considered a cat pokemon for Hyunjoon but quickly dismissed the idea. Cat pokemon were quiet but they were fickle, and Junghee didn't want to be responsible if one accidentally scratched Hyunjoon and turned him off of pokemon forever.
He glanced over at Minki, who was on his hand and knees in the dirt as at least ten pokemon clambered all over him. It looked suffocating. Junghee wasn't sure how Minki handled it so well; the younger boy was grinning, cheeks faintly flushed as he tossed a bright red Frisbee and three dog pokemon went chasing after it. At least three pokemon were nosing at Minki, in his personal space, licking his cheek - Junghee repressed a shudder. Minki didn't seem bothered at all, though, continuing to laugh as he rubbed the offending Growlithe between the ears.
A Growlithe. They were loyal dogs, and respectable. Police force constantly employed them in their line of work, but then Junghee had an image of an Arcanine sitting on their shared bed, or taking up their entire kitchen space, and promptly changed his mind.
He turned his head and that's when he saw it: a dog pokemon that he didn't recognize. It was the size of a puppy, and seemed to be chewing at a rawhide bone. It didn't seem all that concerned about the chaos around them, nor did they seem particularly aggressive. If anything, it seemed even somewhat ambivalent about chewing the toy between his paws. He knows boundaries at least, Junghee thought.
Gently easing himself off the Fennekin in his lap, Junghee made his way to the dog. It was a light brown color, with a darker rudd around its neck and ears that seemed to stick up slightly. When Junghee approached, he looked up and blinked, staring evenly back.
The dog then broke out into a smile, bright blue eyes now focused and answered back with a bark. The sound alarmed Junghee somewhat, but the dog didn't immediately jump up and slobber all over him like he thought it might. This gave Junghee the courage to reach forward, running his hands through the coarse fur and rubbing the pup between the ears. The dog seemed to appreciate this, tail thumping happily on the ground, but not too happy. This was good.
Smiling, Junghee looked at his tag and read Rockruff. Oh, so it was one of those new pokemon from Alola. Junghee didn't know much about them, but the current stage seemed incredibly cute. Staring at its bright blue eyes kind of reminded him of Minki, and knowing Hyunjoons affection for their maknae, Junghee thought he'd like him too. Yes, this was the one.
"Minki, I think I found one," he called over to his maknae, beginning to stand up.
Junghee wasn't sure what kind of pokemon it'd evolve into, but how bad could it really be? As long as it didn't evolve into an Arcanine that would engulf their kitchen, everything would be fine.
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